Pumpkin Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ginger

pinch grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter,* room temperature
1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin

4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips**

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a medium bowl, whisk together first seven ingredients.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugar until fully combined.  Beat in egg.  With mixer on low speed, mix in half the flour mixture, then the pumpkin, then the remaining flour mixture, just until combined.

Using a cookie scoop, drop dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake for 15 minutes, or beginning to turn golden.  Cool on a wire rack.

When cookies are cool, set the rack over a waxed paper.  Place chocolate in a small bowl or mug.  Microwave for 30 seconds.  Stir.  Microwave another 30 seconds.  Stir.  Continue to microwave by 10 second increments until smooth.  Drizzle over cookies with a fork, or pour chocolate into a plastic baggie.  Cut off a corner to make an 1/8 inch hole.  Pipe chocolate over cookies.  Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, about 15 minutes.

Adapted from Everyday Food

*The last time I made them, I used 1/4 cup bacon grease and 1/4 regular butter.  I think they tasted much better than just using the unsalted butter.  Really.  But I didn't tell the ladies I served them to.  There might have been a riot.  :)

**I didn't particularly like the texture of the chocolate, so I decided to try a ganache.  I thought it would lend to a more pleasant bite. 

4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (generous 1/2 cup)

1/3 heavy cream

Melt over a double boiler until smooth.  You can spoon the ganache right over the top of the cookies to cover completely, or wait until the ganache has thickened and then pipe it over the cookies.

The results?  Definitely, the ganache is better.  Piped is preferred--the ones that are completely covered can't be picked up without getting messy.